Climate Change Finance and Investment MSc
Awards: MSc
Study modes: Full-time
Accreditation
Funding opportunities
Programme website: Climate Change Finance and Investment
Our MSc in Climate Change Finance and Investment is dedicated to developing professionals in the field of low carbon finance and investment. Designed around an interdisciplinary foundation of carbon accounting, climate policy and financial economics, the programme will develop your skills and knowledge to help drive the trillions of dollars of new investment needed to face the climate emergency.
The MSc has an international focus, looking at the opportunities and challenges across different sectors, financial markets and levels of national economic development.
Accreditation
Not only is the University of Edinburgh Business School part of a world renowned University, but it is also accredited by the three most influential business accreditation bodies: the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the EFMD Quality Improvement System (EQUIS) and the Association of MBAs (AMBA). This triple accreditation highlights the quality of teaching and excellence of research at the Business School.
Learning will primarily be through:
- lectures
- set reading
- class discussions
- exercises
- group-work assignments
- problem-solving in tutorials
- case studies
Assessment methods include examinations, assignments, presentations or continuous assessment.
Find out more about compulsory and optional courses
We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.
Award | Title | Duration | Study mode | |
---|---|---|---|---|
MSc | Climate Change Finance & Investment | 1 Year | Full-time | Programme structure 2024/25 |
The programme is dedicated to professionals in the field of low carbon finance and investment, focusing on the financial flows driven by society's response to climate change, and is fundamentally interdisciplinary in nature.
By the end of the programme, you will be able to:
- explain and evaluate the current state of climate change science and key climate change policy initiatives
- understand how to incorporate environmental and climate issues in project finance in the energy sector
- describe and critically evaluate the structure and dynamics of the major global, regional and national-level carbon markets
- explain and apply practices and procedures of carbon accounting
- critically evaluate how governments provide and catalyse national and international climate finance
understand and apply methods for assessing climate risk and alignment with climate goals
Industry opportunities
The MSc in Climate Change Finance and Investment programme has a number of exciting partnerships with industry, consultants, government agencies and NGOs. Our strong connection to industry is embedded in the programme through guest lectures and the opportunity to engage with business figures.
Career development
The explosion of climate change finance and investment has created a range of new types of business, professional careers and opportunities. Our dedicated Student Development Team within the Business School will be an integral part of your student experience from day one. We are here to help you become equipped to maximise your potential in the global market.
Career outcomes
The strength of our Climate Change Finance and Investment programme is reflected in the breadth of companies our graduates have found employment with. Hugely respected by global employers, our programmes provide the perfect learning experience with access to world-class academics and programmes that are underpinned by real world insights.
Job titles of our recent graduates include:
- carbon market senior analyst
- climate action & sustainability consultant
- climate change analyst
- compliance associate
- debt capital markets senior analyst
- energy manager
- ESG & sustainable finance analyst
- finance manager
- green finance associate
- investment associate
- investment manager, infrastructure
- lead investment stewardship manager - climate change
- manager, impact investing
- sustainable finance consultant
sustainable finance analyst
These entry requirements are for the 2025/26 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2026/27 academic year will be published on 10 July 2025.
Entrance to our MSc programmes is strongly competitive. You can increase your chances of a successful application by exceeding the minimum programme requirements.
Academic requirements
You will need a UK first-class or 2:1 honours degree in one of the subjects below, or its international equivalent.
- An undergraduate degree in business, economics, engineering or a social or physical science is normally required.
- Candidates with a very good Honours degree in other areas of study or relevant work experience will be considered on an individual basis
Supporting your application
- Relevant work experience is not required but may increase your chances of acceptance.
- Preference will be given to those with grades above the minimum requirements and/or relevant work experience due to strong competition for places on this programme.
Exemptions
If you do not meet the minimum academic requirement, you may still be considered if you have 2 or more years of relevant work experience. We may require you to complete the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) or Graduate Records Examination (GRE) which are internationally-recognised assessments of analytical, numerical and verbal reasoning.
If we require you to take a GMAT Exam, we would require a score of 555, this equates to a performance in the 51st percentile. We will also accept a score of 555 under the Focus Edition, or 600 under the previous GMAT Exam (10th Edition), providing your test is dated within 5 years. For GRE we would require a score of 315 as a minimum to qualify for our Climate Change Finance and Investment MSc. The GMAT and GRE are not a compulsory part of the application process, but if you have a score that you wish to report to us then this would be welcomed.*
We will accept results from the GMAT Online exam.
Students from China
This degree is Band A.
International qualifications
Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:
English language requirements
Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.
English language tests
We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:
- IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
- TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
- C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 169 in each component.
- Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
- PTE Academic: total 73 with at least 59 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
- Oxford ELLT: 8 overall with at least 6 in each component.
Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.
Degrees taught and assessed in English
We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:
We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).
If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old at the beginning of your programme of study.
Find out more about our language requirements:
Application fee
This programme requires a non-refundable application fee.
- £60
Deposit
You will need to pay this deposit within 28 days of receiving your offer of admission (either unconditional or conditional).
- £1,500 (this contributes towards your tuition fees)
Additional programme costs
See the programme website for more information on additional costs, as well as application fees and deposit payment.
Living costs
You will be responsible for covering living costs for the duration of your studies. Below you can find a breakdown of the cost of living in Edinburgh and other studying costs to help you calculate your finances.
Tuition fees
Award | Title | Duration | Study mode | |
---|---|---|---|---|
MSc | Climate Change Finance & Investment | 1 Year | Full-time | Tuition fees |
Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.
Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:
- borrowing money
- taking out a loan
- family support
- personal savings
- income from work
- employer sponsorship
- scholarships
Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study
Featured funding
UK government postgraduate loans
If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.
The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:
- your programme
- the duration of your studies
- your tuition fee status
Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.
Other funding opportunities
Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:
- Enquiry Management Team
- Phone: +44 (0)131 650 9663
- Contact: futurestudents@ed.ac.uk
- Programme Director, Mengfei Jiang
- Contact: mengfei.jiang@ed.ac.uk
- University of Edinburgh Business School
- 29 Buccleuch Place
- Central Campus
- Edinburgh
- EH8 9JS
- Programme: Climate Change Finance and Investment
- School: Business School
- College: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
Applying
Select your programme and preferred start date to begin your application.
MSc Climate Change Finance & Investment - 1 Year (Full-time)
Due to high demand, the School operates a number of selection deadlines. We will make a small number of offers to the most outstanding candidates on an ongoing basis, but hold the majority of applications until the next published selection deadline when we will offer a proportion of the places available to applicants selected through the competitive process described on the School website.
Full details on the admissions process and the selection deadlines are available on the Business School website:
Deadlines for applicants applying to study in 2025/26:
Round | Application deadline | Decisions by |
---|---|---|
1 | 16 October 2024 | 5 December 2024 |
2 | 11 December 2024 | 20 February 2025 |
3 | 12 February 2025 | 24 April 2025 |
4 | 23 April 2025 | 5 June 2025 |
5 | 11 June 2025 | 24 July 2025 |
You must submit one reference with your application.
Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:
Further information
- Enquiry Management Team
- Phone: +44 (0)131 650 9663
- Contact: futurestudents@ed.ac.uk
- Programme Director, Mengfei Jiang
- Contact: mengfei.jiang@ed.ac.uk
- University of Edinburgh Business School
- 29 Buccleuch Place
- Central Campus
- Edinburgh
- EH8 9JS
- Programme: Climate Change Finance and Investment
- School: Business School
- College: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences